With One Week Left, SIU Leaders Hope for 2017 Budget

SIU's President says an Associated Press report showing lower enrollment in this year's freshman class at state universities is holding true for his system.

The analysis found high school seniors are worried about the state budget uncertainty, and choosing private schools or schools out of state.

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SIU's President says he's getting less optimistic about the so-called "grand bargain" state budget coming through this week, but as WSIU's Jennifer Fuller reports, he remains hopeful for some additional funding.

President Randy Dunn says SIU Carbondale's numbers are down, and so are others.

"Even at our Edwardsville campus, which has typically seen anywhere from two-to-four percent growth in enrollment, they're still on track to have growth for this fall - but interestingly, their first-time freshman numbers are down."

Dunn points out there are other contributing factors at play, but says he and other administrators are hearing from students and parents who are concerned about whether their programs will be available - and whether SIU can hold on without state money.

Dunn says he's losing hope that a full state budget may be passed this week, but he is hopeful that if that doesn't happen, more stop-gap funding may be available to help schools carry on.

Interim SIUC Chancellor Brad Colwell says the university will likely see a dip in on-campus enrollment this fall - and he blames the state budget impasse along with negative perceptions for the decline.